Vehicle deodorizer

ABSTRACT

Vehicle deodorizer system having a venting system which directs outside air into the cab of the vehicle, a reservoir of deodorizing fluid, an atomizing nozzle for directing a fine spray of fluid just outside of the venting system, and means for pumping deodorizing fluid from the reservoir to the atomizing nozzle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a deodorizing system forvehicles and, in particular, for deodorizing the air being brought infrom the outside of the vehicle.

One of the greatest annoyances to drivers and occupants of motorvehicles is the many objectionable odors particularly acute inmetropolitan or highly industrialized encountered during the course ofdriving. This problem is areas, due to the high level of noxious fumesfrom automobile exhaust and industrial effluent. Despite all efforts tocontrol air pollution, the problem of objectionable odors in the air hasnot diminished. In many cases, a device that is used to reduce airpollution very often produces a discharge that is theoretically lesstoxic, but smells worse. The catalytic converter and the diesel engineare two examples of such devices whose numbers have increaseddramatically in recent years.

Objectionable odors are also encountered in the countryside. Many peoplefind certain farm odors objectionable. Occasionally, a dead skunk mayalso be encountered in the road. Although the skunk is passed overbriefly, the odor lingers on for a mile or more.

Most modern vehicles have ventilation systems. However, in mostventilation systems air is brought into the vehicle from the outside.This also brings in the odors which happen to be in the air being driventhrough. None of the prior art ventilation systems treat the airImmediately before being brought into the vehicle. This and otherdifficulties experienced with the prior art devices have been obviatedby the present invention.

It is, therefore, an outstanding object of the invention to provide asystem for deodorizing the air immediately before being brought into avehicle.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a ventingsystem that draws air into the vehicle from the outside and adds adeodorizer to the air before it enters the vehicle.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of adeodorizing system which is easily adapted to existing venting systems.

It is another object of the instant invention to provide a deodorizingsystem which is easily actuated from within the vehicle.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of adeodorizing system that is automatically actuated.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a deodorizing systemwhich is simple in construction, which is inexpensive to manufacture,which is easy to install, and which is capable of a long life of usefulservice with a minimum of maintenance.

With these and other objects in view, as will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art, the invention resides in the combination of partsset forth in the specification and covered by the claims appendedhereto.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In general, the invention consists of a vehicle deodorizer systemcomprising a venting system which draws air into the vehicle from theoutside, a reservoir containing a liquid deodorant, an atomizing nozzleconnected outside of the venting system, and means for pumping thedeodorizing fluid from the reservoir to the atomizing nozzle. Theventing system consists of an air duct having an inlet opening to theoutside of the vehicle, an outlet opening within the vehicle, with orwithout fan, for creating air flow from the inlet opening to the outletopening.

More specifically, the means for pumping deodorizing fluid from thereservoir to the atomizing nozzle consists of an electrical pump, asource of electrical power, and electrical control means including amanually-operated switch located within the vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The character of the invention, however, may be best understood byreference to one of its structural forms, as illustrated by theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a vehicle deodorizerembodying the principles of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the vehicle showing thedeodorizer in use,

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the electrical control circuitry for thedeodorizer, and

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a modified electrical control circuitry ofa deodorizer.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, which best show the general featuresof the invention, the vehicle deodorizer, indicated generally by thereference numeral 10, is shown applied to an automobile 12.

The automobile 12 is provided with a venting system, generally indicatedby the reference numeral 14, which consists of an air duct 16. The ducthas one or more outlet openings 18 within the cab of the automobile andhas a plurality of inlet openings 20 located just beneath the windshield22 of the automobile. As the automobile is driven, air is drawn into airduct 1 from the outside of the automobile through inlet openings 20. Theair flow may be increased by an electrically-operated fan 24 of the typefound in most conventional automobile venting systems which is operatedfrom the battery and is controlled from within the cab of theautomobile. The fan 24 serves to increase the air flow through the duct16 and to create an air flow when the automobile is stationary andoperates in conjunction with conventional heating or cooling systems.

The deodorizing elements are located within the engine compartment 26under the hood, as shown in FIG. 1. These elements comprise a reservoir28, containing a liquid deodorizer, and a pump 30. An atomizing nozzle32 extends to directly outside the air duct 20, as shown in FIGS. 1 and2. The pump 30 is operatively connected to the reservoir 28 by means ofa tube 34 which extends from the pump and down into the reservoir 28. Asecond tube 36 connects the pump 30 to the atomizing nozzle 32. Pump 30is electrically operated and is preferably connected to the storagebattery of the vehicle.

The control means for operating the deodorizer of the present inventionis shown schematically in FIG. 3. It is provided with a pair of powerlines 38 and 40 connected to a source of electrical power 42. In thepreferred embodiment, the source consists of the conventional automobilestorage battery. The pump 30 is located on a line 44. Amanually-operated switch 46 is also located on line 44 and is effective,when closed, to complete a circuit across line 44 to energize the pump30. A switch 46 is located within the cab of the automobile, as shown inFIG. 2, and biased to the open position, so that it remains closed onlyas long as the switch 46 is manually depressed.

If desired, the control means for the deodorizer may also includeautomatic control elements consisting of a recycler 48 located on a line50. The recycler 48 is effective, when energized, to open and close acontact 54 located on a line 56 which bypasses the switch 46. Closing ofcontact 54 is effective to energize the pump 30. A switch 52 located online 50 is effective when closed to complete a circuit across line 50and energize recycler 48. Switch 52 is also located within the cab ofthe automobile as shown in FIG. 2 and i preferably of the toggle orrocker type which remains in either the open or closed position Recycler48 is of the type which, when energized, cycles repeatedly, so that itscontact 54 is opened and closed alternately for predetermined periods oftime Recycler 48 is also provided with means for adjusting the timing ofthe open periods and the closed periods independently. Although thereare many types of recyclers, a recycler sold by Electromatic ComponentsLtd., and identified as SC185/285 represents an example of a recyclerwhich will function as described above.

The operation and advantages of the present invention will now bereadily understood in view of the above description. During theoperation of the vehicle, the deodorizer may be operated either in themanual mode or the automatic mode. If the operator of the vehicleexperiences a temporary foul odor, the operator may depress the switch46 to momentarily energize pump 30 and produce a spray of atomizeddeodorant just outside the inlet openings 20, as viewed n FIG. 2. Theatomized deodorant is drawn into the cab of the vehicle along with airbeing drawn in from the outside through openings 20, with or without theassistance of fan 24.

If the operator of the motor vehicle anticipates that he or she will bedriving through an area containing foul smelling odors for an extendedperiod of time, he or she will close switch 52 to energize the recycler48 and thereby place the deodorizer system in the automatic mode.Without requiring any further attention from the operator, the recycler48 will be effective to alternately close and open contact 54 forpredetermined periods, so that pump 30 is alternately energized andde-energized. This causes atomized deodorizing fluid to be periodicallyintroduced into the duct 16. Switch 46 may, of course, be closed ifdesired whenever the automatic system is in the "off" period if anunexpected four-smelling situation arises. It is also preferred that oneof the power lines, i.e., line 40, extends through the conventionalignition circuitry, identified by the reference numeral 50, so that noneof the control elements for the deodorizer can be activated unless theconventional ignition switch, identified by the reference numeral 60, isclosed.

Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown a modified control circuitrygenerally indicated by the reference numeral 61, comprising a pair ofpower lines 38, and 40' connected to a source of electrical power 42',such as the conventional automobile battery. As in the preferredembodiment, one of the power lines 40' extends through the conventionalignition circuitry 58' and is connected to the battery 42' upon closingof the conventional switch 60'. A recycler 48', located on line 50' issimilar to recycler 48 described above and is effective, when energized,to alternately open and close contact 54' and 64 on lines 44' and 62,respectively. Closing of contacts 54' and 64 are effective to energizepump 30 and fan 24, respectively, located on lines 44' and 62,respectively. Recycler 48' is energized by a selector switch 66 whichhas a manual control position, an "off" position, and an automaticcontrol position. Switch 66 will stay in the "off" position or theautomatic control position, but will stay in the manual control positiononly as long as it is held in that position. One type of switch that maybe used as a selector switch is a Leviton single pole, single throwtoggle switch with two "on" contacts, one of which is momentary. Theselector switch 66 may also comprise a tippette switch sold by CarlingSwitch, model TILC6E or TILC5F. When switch 66 is placed in theautomatic control position, the switch element engages a contact 68which completes a circuit across line 50' and energizes recycler 48'.Energization of recycler 48' causes contacts 54' and 64 to open andclose in unison for predetermined time periods to energize pump 30 andfan 24 on lines 44' and 62, respectively. When the selector switch 66 ismoved to the manual control position, the switch element engages acontact 70 on a line 72 which bypasses contact 64 and enables pump 30 tobe energized when contact 54' is open.

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form andconstruction of the invention without departing from the material spiritthereof. It is not, however, desired to confine the invention to theexact form herein shown and described, but it is desired to include allsuch as properly come within the scope claimed.

The invention having been thus described, what is claimed as new anddesired to be secured by Letters Patent is:
 1. Vehicle deodorizersystem, comprising:(a) a venting system consisting of an air duct havingan inlet opening to the outside of the vehicle and an outlet openingwithin the cab of the vehicle and means for creating air flow from theinlet opening to the outlet opening, (b) a reservoir for containing adeodorizing fluid, (c) an atomizing nozzle immediately outside the inletopening of the air duct, (d) a supply tube operatively connecting theatomizer to the reservoir, and (e) means for pumping deodorizing fluidfrom the reservoir to the atomizing nozzle, wherein the pumping meanscomprises an electric pump operatively connected to the supply tube, asource of electrical power, and electrical control means for connectingthe pump to the electrical power source, and wherein the electricalcontrol means comprises an electrically operated recycler foralternately connecting and disconnecting the pump to the source ofelectric power for predetermined "ON" time periods and "OFF" timeperiods, respectively, and a manually-operated automatic control switchfor connecting the recycler to the source of electric power.
 2. Vehicledeodorizer system as recited in claim 1, wherein the recycler ismanually adjustable for selectively altering the "ON" and "OFF" timeperiods.
 3. Vehicle deodorizer system, comprising:(a) a venting systemconsisting of an air duct having an inlet opening to the outside of thevehicle and an outlet opening within the cab of the vehicle and meansfor creating air flow from the inlet opening to the outlet opening, (b)a reservoir for containing a deodorizing fluid, (c) a atomizing nozzleimmediately outside the inlet opening of the air duct, (d) a supply tubeoperatively connecting the atomizer to the reservoir, and (e) means forpumping deodorizing fluid from the reservoir to the atomizing nozzle,wherein the pumping means comprises an electric pump operativelyconnected to the supply tube, a source of electrical power, andelectrical control means for connecting the pump to the electrical powersource, and wherein the control means comprises an electrically-operatedrecycler for alternately connecting and disconnecting the pump to thesource of electric power for predetermined "ON" time periods and "OFF"time periods, respectively, and a manually-operated selector switchhaving an "off" position, a manual control position, and an automaticcontrol position, the manual control position serving to connect thepump to the source of electric power, the automatic control positionserving to connect the recycler to the source of electric power, and the"OFF" position serving to disconnect the pump and recycler from thesource of electric power.
 4. Vehicle deodorizer system as recited inclaim 3, wherein the "OFF" position is located between the manualcontrol position and the selector switch is biased toward the "OFF"position when it is in the manual control position, so that the selectorswitch remains in the manual control position only as long as it ismanually held in the manual control position.